What do you think?
Rate this book
Liquid Courage
Alexandria Van Kirk has always been a slave to her romantic nature. When a night of liquid courage lands her in bed with one of her best friends, Alex is confronted by a host of feelings that terrify her. Feelings about her friend and, unexpectedly, a barista from her favorite café.
It’s a tug of war between heart and body. Desire against all her daydreams of someone to share silence, sunsets, and coffee with.
But Alex’s past is also about to catch up with her. Tortured memories and the girl they’re all about. It’s like fighting the pull of a whirlwind. A surefire losing battle. But embracing a newfound romance amid the return of an old flame is a precarious balance, one not even Alex herself is sure she can manage.
How the hell does she choose between the girl she loves and the one she could never confess loving to begin with?
It’s a tug of war between heart and body. Desire against all her daydreams of someone to share silence, sunsets, and coffee with.
But Alex’s past is also about to catch up with her. Tortured memories and the girl they’re all about. It’s like fighting the pull of a whirlwind. A surefire losing battle. But embracing a newfound romance amid the return of an old flame is a precarious balance, one not even Alex herself is sure she can manage.
How the hell does she choose between the girl she loves and the one she could never confess loving to begin with?
307 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 23, 2020
4 people are currently reading
43 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
December 1, 2020
2.25 Stars. This was disappointing to say the least. I saw that the early reviews –by friends whose opinions I trust- were not very good for this book. I went in cautiously, but still hoping that I would enjoy this. I’ve loved books that others didn’t and I’ve disliked books that were popular, so maybe something similar would happen here. Instead, I’m sorry to say that this book was not a match for me at all.
The book is actually in two parts. Part one, which is exactly 45% of the book, was actually quite good. This story should have been turned into a novella and ended right when part one was over. I would have rated it at least 3.5 stars if not more. The problem is once part two started, the book went downhill and just kept going. I would actually recommend to people who might read this book, read part one, enjoy it, and stop the book there. I really wished that is what I would have done but instead I kept reading.
In the second half of the book, a random person enters the book and we are stuck in never ending flashbacks to try to make up for the fact that we don’t know, or care at all, about this new person. It’s like Shea wrote this book backwards. You don’t start long, seemingly to have nothing to do with the point of the book, flashbacks after the 50% mark. If you want us to care about this random character, than you start the book with the characters as teenagers, introducing us to this person, and then you put us in the present time for the rest of the book. If you do it this way, when this random stranger pops up, she’s not an actual stranger because we know who she is and we might actually care about her. Instead, she was just a random person taking up pages that needed to be spent on other characters. This was such a bazaar writing choice that I can’t get my head around it.
I’m a big fan of epilogues, especially for romance books. The one thing about epilogues is that they are not endings and should not be used as one. An epilogue is a bonus scene for us readers and in romance they normally show the couple getting engaged, married, having babies, or some other sweet romantic bonus moment. Unfortunately, this book decided to use the epilogue as an ending. It felt extremely gimmicky, and almost like it was there to trick us readers. It was a totally lame ending and just another thing that ruined this book for me.
I could go into how the main character was flawed –partially for reasons I still don’t even get- and that she showed no growth or character redemption. I could get into how hard it was telling what were flashbacks and what was current so I would have to stop reading and then reread certain parts. And I could go into how we never truly got to learn anything about who the “random stranger” character is now as an adult, but honestly I’m just feeling a bit exhausted. It’s weird to say but I found reading this book and writing this review pretty draining. I hate to be so negative when this is Shea’s full-length debut, but I have to be honest.
It won’t be a surprise but this is a book that I can’t recommend. If you are reading this book I would seriously suggest stopping when part one ends. This review would have been so different if this story would have been part one as a novella only. And because I liked the beginning, I can see potential in Shea, I just don’t know how this story got so off the tracks for my personal tastes.
A copy was given to me for a honest review.
The book is actually in two parts. Part one, which is exactly 45% of the book, was actually quite good. This story should have been turned into a novella and ended right when part one was over. I would have rated it at least 3.5 stars if not more. The problem is once part two started, the book went downhill and just kept going. I would actually recommend to people who might read this book, read part one, enjoy it, and stop the book there. I really wished that is what I would have done but instead I kept reading.
In the second half of the book, a random person enters the book and we are stuck in never ending flashbacks to try to make up for the fact that we don’t know, or care at all, about this new person. It’s like Shea wrote this book backwards. You don’t start long, seemingly to have nothing to do with the point of the book, flashbacks after the 50% mark. If you want us to care about this random character, than you start the book with the characters as teenagers, introducing us to this person, and then you put us in the present time for the rest of the book. If you do it this way, when this random stranger pops up, she’s not an actual stranger because we know who she is and we might actually care about her. Instead, she was just a random person taking up pages that needed to be spent on other characters. This was such a bazaar writing choice that I can’t get my head around it.
I’m a big fan of epilogues, especially for romance books. The one thing about epilogues is that they are not endings and should not be used as one. An epilogue is a bonus scene for us readers and in romance they normally show the couple getting engaged, married, having babies, or some other sweet romantic bonus moment. Unfortunately, this book decided to use the epilogue as an ending. It felt extremely gimmicky, and almost like it was there to trick us readers. It was a totally lame ending and just another thing that ruined this book for me.
I could go into how the main character was flawed –partially for reasons I still don’t even get- and that she showed no growth or character redemption. I could get into how hard it was telling what were flashbacks and what was current so I would have to stop reading and then reread certain parts. And I could go into how we never truly got to learn anything about who the “random stranger” character is now as an adult, but honestly I’m just feeling a bit exhausted. It’s weird to say but I found reading this book and writing this review pretty draining. I hate to be so negative when this is Shea’s full-length debut, but I have to be honest.
It won’t be a surprise but this is a book that I can’t recommend. If you are reading this book I would seriously suggest stopping when part one ends. This review would have been so different if this story would have been part one as a novella only. And because I liked the beginning, I can see potential in Shea, I just don’t know how this story got so off the tracks for my personal tastes.
A copy was given to me for a honest review.
February 10, 2021
2.5 Stars
TW for homophobia, internalized homophobia, and self-harm.
I think ‘Liquid Courage’ is one of the very few romance books where I did not want a happy ending with any of the relationships presented. I would have been happier to see the main character, Alex, single and working on herself.
This felt more like two books to me. In the first half, we have the small triangle between Alex, her best friend Ryan, and Dani, her coffee shop barista. It had the angst and emotions I expected with a new adult romance. There were some issues with this part of the story but I ignored them hoping things would get better. This is a new adult story so I just assumed it was part of them being young and transitioning into adulthood.
Then all of a sudden, 40% into the story, a completely new love interest, Frankie, and the onset of flashback scenes gets introduced. For the rest of the story, Dani and Ryan basically disappear and we get to know Frankie, Alex’s high school love, mostly through flashbacks. Usually I don’t mind flashbacks, but with these not starting until 40%, it was a little jarring. On top that, they were nonlinear so I was never completely sure when and where in the storyline they were happening. I needed a timeline of their past to try to be able to follow everything. There’s not a lot that happens in the present scenes with Frankie except to introduce a new flashback so I didn’t feel like I got to know her as she is now.
Now to the reasoning as to why I didn’t want a happy ending. Alex was not a likeable character for me. She came off as very selfish and unsure of herself. This leads her to hurting not only herself (emotionally as well as physically with her cutting herself), but her love interests and friends too. She was all over the place emotionally and was consumed with internalized homophobia for most of the story. That’s real and true for a lot of people but it was continuous for the whole story and there was never any relief from it. It made the book very heavy and I don’t feel like we got a payoff for it. I wanted to see Alex truly accept herself and to see a therapist. By the ending, she had gotten better with the homophobia but she was still having issues with being honest with herself and others.
Almost all of her thoughts were only known to the reader because it’s told from her point of view. She didn’t have a single meaningful conversation with anyone else until the epilogue. She’s forgiven for it because it’s “just her personality” by Dani and Frankie but honestly, how could any of them have a healthy relationship if she won’t open up to them? I felt Dani and Frankie were both more mature and too good for her in the end. I don’t mind flawed characters but I want to see some growth and change within them. I never got that feeling with Alex.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and NineStar Press in an exchange for an honest review.
TW for homophobia, internalized homophobia, and self-harm.
I think ‘Liquid Courage’ is one of the very few romance books where I did not want a happy ending with any of the relationships presented. I would have been happier to see the main character, Alex, single and working on herself.
This felt more like two books to me. In the first half, we have the small triangle between Alex, her best friend Ryan, and Dani, her coffee shop barista. It had the angst and emotions I expected with a new adult romance. There were some issues with this part of the story but I ignored them hoping things would get better. This is a new adult story so I just assumed it was part of them being young and transitioning into adulthood.
Then all of a sudden, 40% into the story, a completely new love interest, Frankie, and the onset of flashback scenes gets introduced. For the rest of the story, Dani and Ryan basically disappear and we get to know Frankie, Alex’s high school love, mostly through flashbacks. Usually I don’t mind flashbacks, but with these not starting until 40%, it was a little jarring. On top that, they were nonlinear so I was never completely sure when and where in the storyline they were happening. I needed a timeline of their past to try to be able to follow everything. There’s not a lot that happens in the present scenes with Frankie except to introduce a new flashback so I didn’t feel like I got to know her as she is now.
Now to the reasoning as to why I didn’t want a happy ending. Alex was not a likeable character for me. She came off as very selfish and unsure of herself. This leads her to hurting not only herself (emotionally as well as physically with her cutting herself), but her love interests and friends too. She was all over the place emotionally and was consumed with internalized homophobia for most of the story. That’s real and true for a lot of people but it was continuous for the whole story and there was never any relief from it. It made the book very heavy and I don’t feel like we got a payoff for it. I wanted to see Alex truly accept herself and to see a therapist. By the ending, she had gotten better with the homophobia but she was still having issues with being honest with herself and others.
Almost all of her thoughts were only known to the reader because it’s told from her point of view. She didn’t have a single meaningful conversation with anyone else until the epilogue. She’s forgiven for it because it’s “just her personality” by Dani and Frankie but honestly, how could any of them have a healthy relationship if she won’t open up to them? I felt Dani and Frankie were both more mature and too good for her in the end. I don’t mind flawed characters but I want to see some growth and change within them. I never got that feeling with Alex.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and NineStar Press in an exchange for an honest review.
November 28, 2020
2.5 stars. As far as I know this is the authors first full-length novel and I hate writing negative reviews, especially for a debut novel, but this book didn’t work well for me. I liked the underlying ideas, but I think the author wanted a bit too much with the various storylines and the amount of emotions (angst), and I didn’t like some of the story choices.
I would describe this as a NA coming of age novel. Alex is a 22-year old student, finding her way to love. To get there she has to evaluate what it is that she wants in a relationship and face her past, her family (and especially her homophobic mother), and herself (as she struggles with self-acceptance and self-harm). She is a romantic soul but an extreme introvert who has serious trouble assessing and communicating her emotions and her coping mechanism is to run.
The book starts off with Alex lusting after her best friend Ryan and, at the same time, having all these romantic feelings of sunsets, serious conversations and cuddling with Dani, a barista at her favorite café. From the first moment you’re immediately thrown into all of Alex’s emotions and the angst level is super high. While I do not mind a good dose of angst or an emotionally complex character, I need to understand where this angst is coming from and I need to have a feeling that there is cause for this angst. Unfortunately, that was not clear for me in this book. To me, Alex’ emotions were all over the place (including her romantic feelings). Obviously, she was struggling with her emotions so much that I just didn’t understand it anymore (she didn’t either I think).
The book is divided into two parts, the first part mainly deals with her relationship with Ryan and Dani and the family dynamics in the present. The second part continues with her family history and also introduces a new character from her past. The present and flashbacks were more or less alternating in the second part of the book and I was not a fan of the constant flashbacks as I felt they were interrupting the flow of the main story and sometimes it wasn’t clear to me whether I was reading the past or the present.
As indicated, I didn’t like some of the story choices, the biggest one being how the book ended. I can’t say much without giving spoilers, it is a sort of happy ending, but it did not feel like a happy ending to me. I think a happy ending was not possible with the created situation. For those who want to know what I mean, read the following spoiler.
This book was not a good match for me, so personally I can’t recommend it, but there were some surprising twists and turns and there might be readers that will enjoy this book better than I did.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
I would describe this as a NA coming of age novel. Alex is a 22-year old student, finding her way to love. To get there she has to evaluate what it is that she wants in a relationship and face her past, her family (and especially her homophobic mother), and herself (as she struggles with self-acceptance and self-harm). She is a romantic soul but an extreme introvert who has serious trouble assessing and communicating her emotions and her coping mechanism is to run.
The book starts off with Alex lusting after her best friend Ryan and, at the same time, having all these romantic feelings of sunsets, serious conversations and cuddling with Dani, a barista at her favorite café. From the first moment you’re immediately thrown into all of Alex’s emotions and the angst level is super high. While I do not mind a good dose of angst or an emotionally complex character, I need to understand where this angst is coming from and I need to have a feeling that there is cause for this angst. Unfortunately, that was not clear for me in this book. To me, Alex’ emotions were all over the place (including her romantic feelings). Obviously, she was struggling with her emotions so much that I just didn’t understand it anymore (she didn’t either I think).
The book is divided into two parts, the first part mainly deals with her relationship with Ryan and Dani and the family dynamics in the present. The second part continues with her family history and also introduces a new character from her past. The present and flashbacks were more or less alternating in the second part of the book and I was not a fan of the constant flashbacks as I felt they were interrupting the flow of the main story and sometimes it wasn’t clear to me whether I was reading the past or the present.
As indicated, I didn’t like some of the story choices, the biggest one being how the book ended. I can’t say much without giving spoilers, it is a sort of happy ending, but it did not feel like a happy ending to me. I think a happy ending was not possible with the created situation. For those who want to know what I mean, read the following spoiler.
This book was not a good match for me, so personally I can’t recommend it, but there were some surprising twists and turns and there might be readers that will enjoy this book better than I did.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Read
November 28, 2020I read a lot and hate DNFing a book - but unfortunately I just can't finish this one. It pains me to do this because the author is clearly good with words, but I can't get past the storyline.
The book is split into two parts and I was quite enjoying the first part, but as soon as the second part of the book started I just became increasingly frustrated with the main character and the way the storyline took a turn.
I may end up returning to this in the future but I don't think it'll be soon. Whilst this book doesn't work for me it's perfectly possible others would enjoy this. I also wouldn't rule out trying another work by this author in the future.
I received an e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The book is split into two parts and I was quite enjoying the first part, but as soon as the second part of the book started I just became increasingly frustrated with the main character and the way the storyline took a turn.
I may end up returning to this in the future but I don't think it'll be soon. Whilst this book doesn't work for me it's perfectly possible others would enjoy this. I also wouldn't rule out trying another work by this author in the future.
I received an e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 14, 2021
I read reviews from friends and thought I'd still give this a chance because I've really been enjoying Shea's other stories. I decided to stick with three stars 'cause this was... a lot.
I liked the first half of the book and whilst it would have left me wanting more it would have been a really good story had it ended there, but it didn't. We got a lot more than we bargained for and it was tiring.
Poor Dani. Poor Frankie. Poor Alex.
It was just a bad and painful situation for everyone... both for their (respective) past experiences and what happens for them all in the present. Although the story ends in what many would perceive as a happy ending... I found that I was not a happy camper. At all. It was bittersweet.
Heavy on the bitter with a splash of the sweet.
I liked the first half of the book and whilst it would have left me wanting more it would have been a really good story had it ended there, but it didn't. We got a lot more than we bargained for and it was tiring.
Poor Dani. Poor Frankie. Poor Alex.
It was just a bad and painful situation for everyone... both for their (respective) past experiences and what happens for them all in the present. Although the story ends in what many would perceive as a happy ending... I found that I was not a happy camper. At all. It was bittersweet.
Heavy on the bitter with a splash of the sweet.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 10, 2021
Angsty and Dramatic!
Alex’s life is one big mess of overwhelming feelings and emotions messing with her head and heart as she is torn between her relationship with her best friend, and one she desires to have with the woman who has caught her eye at the local coffee shop. When her past then catches up with her, adding a new level of complication to her circumstances, Alex is torn by everything she feels and the situation she finds herself in, with the difficult decisions she is going to have to make.
This is definitely a fast-paced story with some darker elements that some may find triggering but overall was an angsty, dramatic story. Alex had a lot going on that she had to figure out, which stereotypically at times leant hand in hand with her lifestyle and background but made making decisions for her very difficult. A lot of the time she was torn between thoughts and feelings and was tortured by memories and desires. She was quite the flawed character and a bit disastrous at times but she did have quite a stressful life and reputation to live up to.
What was interesting was how this story developed. Being in two parts it seemed as though, at times, this was like two separate stories for one character. The first part where her past wasn’t so involved, and then the second where it really did turn up out of the blue, change her slightly, and really haunted her. There were a few flashbacks within the story that gave a bit of insight into why Alex was acting like she was crazy at times so that really added to the drama and context.
For a debut novel, I enjoyed the story and it was good. It was interesting to experience Stephanie Shea’s storytelling and how it differed from her novella I read previously, and perhaps we will see Alex again in future.
Alex’s life is one big mess of overwhelming feelings and emotions messing with her head and heart as she is torn between her relationship with her best friend, and one she desires to have with the woman who has caught her eye at the local coffee shop. When her past then catches up with her, adding a new level of complication to her circumstances, Alex is torn by everything she feels and the situation she finds herself in, with the difficult decisions she is going to have to make.
This is definitely a fast-paced story with some darker elements that some may find triggering but overall was an angsty, dramatic story. Alex had a lot going on that she had to figure out, which stereotypically at times leant hand in hand with her lifestyle and background but made making decisions for her very difficult. A lot of the time she was torn between thoughts and feelings and was tortured by memories and desires. She was quite the flawed character and a bit disastrous at times but she did have quite a stressful life and reputation to live up to.
What was interesting was how this story developed. Being in two parts it seemed as though, at times, this was like two separate stories for one character. The first part where her past wasn’t so involved, and then the second where it really did turn up out of the blue, change her slightly, and really haunted her. There were a few flashbacks within the story that gave a bit of insight into why Alex was acting like she was crazy at times so that really added to the drama and context.
For a debut novel, I enjoyed the story and it was good. It was interesting to experience Stephanie Shea’s storytelling and how it differed from her novella I read previously, and perhaps we will see Alex again in future.
November 23, 2020
Two stars. I'm actually sorry about how honest I'm about to be when this is the first review. This had all the angst of a typical new adult book, and then multiplied tenfold.
The first third, or something around that mark, fit with my expectations. Mostly. I expected the BFF to have the advantage over the barista, but you only need to see them interact once to know who the better choice is. I'm glad with how things proceed with Dani, up until that point. I get the impression that Alex doesn't deserve her, and is not ready for a relationship in general, but we're going somewhere. If this had been the story, I would have given it three and a half stars, maybe four.
And then Frankie enters, and the plot, as I understood it, completely changes. (You realize that everything you thought the book was about is wrong, and furthermore, you're shipping the "wrong" couple.) The most confusing part is the flashbacks. First, the narration does a poor job of segueing into them, and they aren't in a different font or marked by section breaks, so 90% of the time I spend pages frustratedly trying to distinguish past from present. There are so many flashbacks, and they go on for pages at a time, to the point where it would be more efficient and much more readable for the author to have just told us that part of the story in one chunk, and then done a time skip to the present. That's the only option if you're going to flesh out the backstory in such detail.
I really didn't like how Frankie made the first third of the story basically irrelevant. It was never about Dani, but at least I understand what role she plays compared to Frankie. Ryan's existence was entirely pointless, other than extra angst when Alex is dating Dani. It might have been less misleading to establish Dani in the beginning as Alex's girlfriend and exclude the part altogether. Alex's fear and internalized homophobia would still have been evident even if we hadn't seen her struggling while dating Dani. It's not like Alex shows us anything in the first third that isn't consistent with the rest of the book. She's a very static character up until the epilogue.
The epilogue which, since I've brought it up, just got on my nerves. The epilogue isn't there to draw out the ending for the sake of drama, so there shouldn't have been a complete turnaround from the last chapter. If you're going to end with uncertainty, follow through with it. Otherwise, there should have been more to convince us that it was going to work this time around.
I didn't enjoy reading this and I can't help but feel tricked by the description. There were a few points in the later pages that I considered leaving it as a DNF. I don't like leaving negative reviews, and I apologize if the author gets to read this.
The first third, or something around that mark, fit with my expectations. Mostly. I expected the BFF to have the advantage over the barista, but you only need to see them interact once to know who the better choice is. I'm glad with how things proceed with Dani, up until that point. I get the impression that Alex doesn't deserve her, and is not ready for a relationship in general, but we're going somewhere. If this had been the story, I would have given it three and a half stars, maybe four.
And then Frankie enters, and the plot, as I understood it, completely changes. (You realize that everything you thought the book was about is wrong, and furthermore, you're shipping the "wrong" couple.) The most confusing part is the flashbacks. First, the narration does a poor job of segueing into them, and they aren't in a different font or marked by section breaks, so 90% of the time I spend pages frustratedly trying to distinguish past from present. There are so many flashbacks, and they go on for pages at a time, to the point where it would be more efficient and much more readable for the author to have just told us that part of the story in one chunk, and then done a time skip to the present. That's the only option if you're going to flesh out the backstory in such detail.
I really didn't like how Frankie made the first third of the story basically irrelevant. It was never about Dani, but at least I understand what role she plays compared to Frankie. Ryan's existence was entirely pointless, other than extra angst when Alex is dating Dani. It might have been less misleading to establish Dani in the beginning as Alex's girlfriend and exclude the part altogether. Alex's fear and internalized homophobia would still have been evident even if we hadn't seen her struggling while dating Dani. It's not like Alex shows us anything in the first third that isn't consistent with the rest of the book. She's a very static character up until the epilogue.
The epilogue which, since I've brought it up, just got on my nerves. The epilogue isn't there to draw out the ending for the sake of drama, so there shouldn't have been a complete turnaround from the last chapter. If you're going to end with uncertainty, follow through with it. Otherwise, there should have been more to convince us that it was going to work this time around.
I didn't enjoy reading this and I can't help but feel tricked by the description. There were a few points in the later pages that I considered leaving it as a DNF. I don't like leaving negative reviews, and I apologize if the author gets to read this.
February 26, 2021
Wow!
I am not really sure how to put into words how this book made me feel. There is such an honest yet intense feel to this story. First I was impressed that this was a full novel, not one of those books that have the last ten chapters squeezed into one. This is Alex’s story. It has two best friends, an ex, a new love and family new and old. Since I am three times older than the main character, I thought this was going to be on the young side for me. However, I could not have been more wrong. There are lessons learned in this book that have no age limit. I can honestly say that this story reached into my heart and I was brought to tears. Without revealing the plot, you learn that Alex had some past issues that causes her to think she is broken and was trying to lead her life the best she could. There are two parts to this book that lend to the story. I was able to enjoy reading this at a pace known for novels. As you approach the conclusion, you are so invested and think you know how it ends. For me the conclusion is exactly what I hoped for, exactly as it should be. This writer has impressed with her storytelling with this book. I am so looking forward to her future works.
I am not really sure how to put into words how this book made me feel. There is such an honest yet intense feel to this story. First I was impressed that this was a full novel, not one of those books that have the last ten chapters squeezed into one. This is Alex’s story. It has two best friends, an ex, a new love and family new and old. Since I am three times older than the main character, I thought this was going to be on the young side for me. However, I could not have been more wrong. There are lessons learned in this book that have no age limit. I can honestly say that this story reached into my heart and I was brought to tears. Without revealing the plot, you learn that Alex had some past issues that causes her to think she is broken and was trying to lead her life the best she could. There are two parts to this book that lend to the story. I was able to enjoy reading this at a pace known for novels. As you approach the conclusion, you are so invested and think you know how it ends. For me the conclusion is exactly what I hoped for, exactly as it should be. This writer has impressed with her storytelling with this book. I am so looking forward to her future works.
December 3, 2020
"Always wanting to make things easier than Alex deserved, only to make them more difficult in the end."
21 year old (Alex) Alexandria Van Kirk has big notions of love. Vacillating between being brave and owning her heart to living under her impression of love, her reactions and subsequent decisions would leave readers wanting.
The book is presented in 2 parts, each part focusing on the characters she was involved with.
In part 1, Alex crossed paths with Dani, the barista who was bold, knew who and what she wanted, fought tooth and nail to make her presence known and was endearing to say the least.
In Part 2, Frankie, the woman who waited and waited for Alex to own up to her feelings is the epitome of patience. Her shared history with a younger Alex made her someone you wanted to shake to her senses for she deserved so much better and more.
The author grasped me with the build up of her characters. You cannot capture an audience without getting into the head of readers. That being said, she rattled me with the epilogue.
This was painful for me to review for i became far too invested in Dani. I cannot visualize what goes on in the heads of writers, how their characters speak to them, however i found Alex lacking and mindless. I was left with the impression of a young adult sowing her wild oats without care towards the mess she left behind.
Did anyone truly take centre stage? Probably Alex.
Was it brutal? Yes.
Was it real? Unfortunately yes too. We are all capable of being hurt and hurting as such is the reality of life. I wish the book ended with a cliffhanger. Or for the 2 parts to be switched.
I just reviewed Liquid Courage by Stephanie Shea. #LiquidCourage #NetGalley
21 year old (Alex) Alexandria Van Kirk has big notions of love. Vacillating between being brave and owning her heart to living under her impression of love, her reactions and subsequent decisions would leave readers wanting.
The book is presented in 2 parts, each part focusing on the characters she was involved with.
In part 1, Alex crossed paths with Dani, the barista who was bold, knew who and what she wanted, fought tooth and nail to make her presence known and was endearing to say the least.
In Part 2, Frankie, the woman who waited and waited for Alex to own up to her feelings is the epitome of patience. Her shared history with a younger Alex made her someone you wanted to shake to her senses for she deserved so much better and more.
The author grasped me with the build up of her characters. You cannot capture an audience without getting into the head of readers. That being said, she rattled me with the epilogue.
This was painful for me to review for i became far too invested in Dani. I cannot visualize what goes on in the heads of writers, how their characters speak to them, however i found Alex lacking and mindless. I was left with the impression of a young adult sowing her wild oats without care towards the mess she left behind.
Did anyone truly take centre stage? Probably Alex.
Was it brutal? Yes.
Was it real? Unfortunately yes too. We are all capable of being hurt and hurting as such is the reality of life. I wish the book ended with a cliffhanger. Or for the 2 parts to be switched.
I just reviewed Liquid Courage by Stephanie Shea. #LiquidCourage #NetGalley
December 17, 2020
I honestly liked this book so much. It's dark and so beautiful at the same time.
I enjoyed reading the complex characters specially the protagonist who brought me all kinds of emotions. I think what made this book so especial for me is how relatable it is, it's honest and complicated and just so real.
Shea's sentences are so beutifully written and I really can't wait to read more of her stories.
I enjoyed reading the complex characters specially the protagonist who brought me all kinds of emotions. I think what made this book so especial for me is how relatable it is, it's honest and complicated and just so real.
Shea's sentences are so beutifully written and I really can't wait to read more of her stories.
October 21, 2024
Stephanie Shea is one of those authors who never fails to tug at my heartstrings with her words. Her writing is special in a way that it takes me on an emotional ride along with the characters in each of her stories. She can make me feel what they feel.
I knew going into this that it wasn't your typical HEA romance. A happy ending wasn't going to be from point A to point B. This was the scenic route of Alexandria Van Kirk's s love life. In Part 1, we first meet Alex, and she's a mess - young and still sorting out who she is in life, as a young adult does. She starts to figure things out and puts herself on the right track forward, but you can tell that there's still something simmering just below the surface with her.
Part 2. As we start to peel back the layers of Alex's past, we quickly learn the root of her pain, guilt, and insecurities. So used to running and hiding from her feelings, she's now forced to deal with them face-to-face as a blast from her past comes back into her life.
This story is a reminder that some people come into your life at the right time, just when you need them. And sometimes the right person comes into your life at the wrong time, but still ends up being there forever.
I knew going into this that it wasn't your typical HEA romance. A happy ending wasn't going to be from point A to point B. This was the scenic route of Alexandria Van Kirk's s love life. In Part 1, we first meet Alex, and she's a mess - young and still sorting out who she is in life, as a young adult does. She starts to figure things out and puts herself on the right track forward, but you can tell that there's still something simmering just below the surface with her.
Part 2. As we start to peel back the layers of Alex's past, we quickly learn the root of her pain, guilt, and insecurities. So used to running and hiding from her feelings, she's now forced to deal with them face-to-face as a blast from her past comes back into her life.
This story is a reminder that some people come into your life at the right time, just when you need them. And sometimes the right person comes into your life at the wrong time, but still ends up being there forever.
September 27, 2024
Talk about a love triangle that tugs at the heart! This novel is so much more than that though, it's a genuine story about what happens when the one who got away comes back just as the one you love has you on cloud 9 (tug of war with oneself). This novella takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions that range from intense passion and excitement to profound guilt and confusion.
The story centers around Alexandra Van Kirk (Alex), a gorgeous, hard-to-read (no pun intended) hotel heiress in her early 20s. It starts with a spicy bang as Alex mistakenly sleeps with one of her best friends after a drunken night. This forces her to confront what she's tried so hard to keep to herself. She has yet to come out to her socialite mother, the reason she used to "hurt herself" back in high school.
She unexpectedly falls in love with the barista at her favorite cafe: curly-haired, caramel-sunkissed Daniela (Dani). Dani is a first-gen Dominican beauty who finally gives Alex the courage to live her truth. Just as unexpectedly, breathtaking Francesca (Frankie) reappears in her life after she moves back from California thanks to her pro soccer career. Wavy blonde hair, blue-green-eyed Frankie who knows Alex better than anyone despite the years since they parted ways. Are they star-crossed lovers?
I won't spoil the ending! Highly recommend this read, spicy level (3)
The story centers around Alexandra Van Kirk (Alex), a gorgeous, hard-to-read (no pun intended) hotel heiress in her early 20s. It starts with a spicy bang as Alex mistakenly sleeps with one of her best friends after a drunken night. This forces her to confront what she's tried so hard to keep to herself. She has yet to come out to her socialite mother, the reason she used to "hurt herself" back in high school.
She unexpectedly falls in love with the barista at her favorite cafe: curly-haired, caramel-sunkissed Daniela (Dani). Dani is a first-gen Dominican beauty who finally gives Alex the courage to live her truth. Just as unexpectedly, breathtaking Francesca (Frankie) reappears in her life after she moves back from California thanks to her pro soccer career. Wavy blonde hair, blue-green-eyed Frankie who knows Alex better than anyone despite the years since they parted ways. Are they star-crossed lovers?
I won't spoil the ending! Highly recommend this read, spicy level (3)
Read
September 28, 2021Read because it’s suggested in Jaes reading challenge bi/pan sexual character category but unless I missed something I don’t think it actually qualifies. The fact A had a boyfriend and unsatisfactory sex before coming to terms with her sexuality does not in my mind equate to bi/pan.
I think this should be 2 separate novellas and should have been written with different character names. The end of “part1” has A and D declaring they are ridiculously in love. Nice story with D someone you could root for.
Part 2 rips that HEA apart. Told in sometimes confusing flashbacks, A becomes ever more annoying showing no character growth, unable to speak most of the time. In the epilogue which is actually the ending of the story we get “it’s been over for months” as the only update on D the character we support for 1/2 the book and who is completely absent for the 2nd half. If this had been a standalone second chance at love I think I would have liked it more.
I think this should be 2 separate novellas and should have been written with different character names. The end of “part1” has A and D declaring they are ridiculously in love. Nice story with D someone you could root for.
Part 2 rips that HEA apart. Told in sometimes confusing flashbacks, A becomes ever more annoying showing no character growth, unable to speak most of the time. In the epilogue which is actually the ending of the story we get “it’s been over for months” as the only update on D the character we support for 1/2 the book and who is completely absent for the 2nd half. If this had been a standalone second chance at love I think I would have liked it more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 1, 2022
This was such a disappointing read. The first part was at least kind of nice but the second part gave me whiplash with so much flashbacks.
I'm never a fan of love at first sight romances but when it's written well I can find it enjoyable. Alex and Dani's wasn't written well but at least their's was easy to read compared to Alex and Frankie's.
I don't care so much that Frankie was introduced halfway into the book, she could still have been a very interesting character if written well.
Speaking of characters, the side characters in this book, there's Dom, the supportive best friend, Ryan, the chaotic wild best friend, dad; the supportive parent, mom; the conservative, disapproving parent.
I really liked the premise of this story, but the execution was poor.
I'm never a fan of love at first sight romances but when it's written well I can find it enjoyable. Alex and Dani's wasn't written well but at least their's was easy to read compared to Alex and Frankie's.
I don't care so much that Frankie was introduced halfway into the book, she could still have been a very interesting character if written well.
Speaking of characters, the side characters in this book, there's Dom, the supportive best friend, Ryan, the chaotic wild best friend, dad; the supportive parent, mom; the conservative, disapproving parent.
I really liked the premise of this story, but the execution was poor.
March 25, 2021
So, I think everyone is being a little harsh. This is a debut. I understand that when we read a stand alone novel, we want clarity of character and resolution, but this is one piece of writing in an author’s repertoire.
Did I love the main character? Not really. I never really “got” her or her motivations, but I was interested every step of the way with every choice she made. I think that’s a good book. I could feel and recognize her pain and the introversion that she used to protect herself.
I am interested to see what Shea writes next.
Did I love the main character? Not really. I never really “got” her or her motivations, but I was interested every step of the way with every choice she made. I think that’s a good book. I could feel and recognize her pain and the introversion that she used to protect herself.
I am interested to see what Shea writes next.
May 5, 2022
This book had a very spoiled rich girl heroine who would've been great if she wasn't so lacking in self-awareness.
I'm not sure I'd call it a traditional romance genre novel with several relationships throughout it, but it was good enough to keep me entertained all the way to the end, and did have a HFN.
I'm not sure I'd call it a traditional romance genre novel with several relationships throughout it, but it was good enough to keep me entertained all the way to the end, and did have a HFN.
September 29, 2022
Really wish the book ended with the first part. Even though it would have left it with an unfinished feel. I enjoyed it up to that point. The second part left me very frustrated with how it all went. Would recommend others to end at the first part.
December 15, 2020
I was surprised by some of the reviews on here, which I didn't read until after I finished the book and they actually prompted me to offer my own review. I really liked this book. Shea wrote engaging characters and she made me care about the protagonist--did she struggle in a myriad of ways when she was younger and in her early twenties and hurt people, absolutely; did that make me like her less--no. I gave this book 5 stars because Shea made me care about Alex and feel for the ways in which she struggled with family expectations that can be overwhelming at 16 (or 22). I felt for the secondary characters as well and for me that is the mark of a good book. I was engaged from beginning to end and I wasn't sure where Shea was going to ultimately take the reader.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews